Two Elounda Stories!
and interesting Greek Kreta links 4 U at the bottom of this page! Enjoy!
Elounda History & Myth, two stories from the Greek fishing village of Elounda Crete.
Plus links to inKretableCrete, photos off the beaten track, inKretableHealing and Whats on Crete
Elounda History & Myth, two stories from the Greek fishing village of Elounda Crete.
and The Tale of Two Cities
There was once an ancient Minoan city located high in the mountains above Elounda Crete.
Once upon a time, there were two cities. The ancient city of Olous, down in the valley, near the sea, and the ancient city of Oxa, high up on the mountain.
Both these cities are dated into Minoan times, and their remains still can be seen. Well, The Olous residents lived on fish, where as the oxa people lived off the land and goats. There used to be a bit of trading going on between them, but all in the favor of the milk. Well the people of Olous got a bit jealous, so they decided that they would conquer Oxa. There was a small problem though. The city of Oxa was on a mountain, so to attack those in wars would be difficult.
There was a custom. If a citizen of Oxa were to trespass in to the area of Olous,
the kingof Oxa had to go personally and apologize to the king of Olous, and vice
versa. Therefore,the devious King of Olous thought up a terrific plan.
Three days later, a young man from Olous, apparently hunting, trespassed into
Oxa land. The Oxa king demanded of the king of Olous to come all the way up
the mountain and apologise. The king of Olous mounted his donkey and went up
the old beaten track, accompanied by two servants and two soldiers.
He knocked on the front door and was welcomed into the palace, to apologize.
While every ones eyes were turned upon the king of Olous, the army of Olous had sneaked round the back, and was preparing their attack. As the king of Olous left via the front door, now a friend once more and loaded with gifts of goat's meat and milk and wheat, the army attacked from the back.
Obviously, the army of Olous won. They gained the land, the goats and the few remaining people of oxa fled, to another island, before they left though they hid something, somewhere. In addition, this brings us the legend of the nine wells.
In our days there are to small islands close to Crete one name Naxos and another names Axos, we often wonder if these people that fled from their home town of Oxa, are now the proud residents of these islands.
The Legend of the Nine Wells of Elounda Crete
This was a very rich city as they traded on crops and goat's meat and milk. When one day their neighboring city attacked them and threw them from their homes, they hid all the gold and treasure in a well. On this mountain, there were nine wells. They covered them all up and fled. Till this day, thousands of people have searched for this well. Sheppards in the mountains, local men, even the Nazis in the occupation of Crete searched for the treasure hidden in this well. Up to this day only eight wells have been found, the ninth, which contains the treasure, is still well hidden. Therefore, if you are ever up on this mountain, look around and see if you can find the ninth well.
Mount Oxa is above the small fishing village of Elounda on the northern coast of Kreta Crete. To get to Mount Oxa you need to pass Elounda skisma (main town square) Kato Elounda (the lower original village of Elounda) Pano Elounda (the upper original village of Elounda) and climb high into the Kreta mountains. The myth of the 9 wells of Oxa was so well known that the Nazis in the second world war decided to march into the mountains to find the lost well and the treasures that the priests stored there for safety. Needless to say, even the Nazis couldn't find the ninth well!
I frequently climbed Mount Oxa and could never find more than 5 wells! Perhaps you can?
Elounda Crete Kretan Myth of Mount Oxa treasures Minoan Elounda Crete Kreta Greece
Elounda Crete Kretan Myth of Mount Oxa treasures Minoan Elounda Crete Kreta Greece
The Legend of the Nine Wells of Elounda Crete
Crete Greece Elounda off the beaten track a wealth of Minoan Myths, rich city and untold stories! Mount Oxa in Elounda Crete and Tale of two Cities! Mount Oxa towering high above the Greek fishing village of Elounda northern coast of Kreta Crete. To get to the Mount Oxa track go through Elounda skisma main town square pass beyond Kato Elounda the lower original village of Elounda Pano Elounda the upper original village of Elounda and climb high into the Kreta mountains. The myth of the 9 wells of Oxa a well known myth of hidden treasures the Nazis in the second world war decided to march into the mountains to find the lost well and the treasures that the priests stored there for safety. Mount Oxa Kreta Crete off the beaten track